A/N: Thanks for the new favs, follows and reviews everyone, I really appreciate every one of them. Thanks to DreamingGalaxies as always for looking over this for me and answering my never ending questions, if it weren't for her you would all have to put up with a LOT of grammar and punctuation mistakes!

Spiders And Webs

Thorin's POV

Bombur falling into the river was just the start of their troubles in that horrible place. When the boat overturned, they lost two of their packs and now their rations, which had already been small, were dwindling to almost nothing.

Tempers frayed as the company bickered about who would carry Bombur. Their hunger only exacerbated the hopeless situation. The forest seemed to stretch on forever and they feared there would be no end in sight to their exhaustion and discomfort.

The forest was pulling them all apart and it didn't escape Thorin's attention that Esme and Jenna spoke less and less with each passing minute. Even their efforts to ration their food seemed pointless. And though all in the company expressed their concerns on this matter, it was Bilbo's nonstop whining that tested the group's patience the most.

"That's it! I can't go another step without a break! I swear this blockhead is getting heavier! Is there no end to this bloody forest!?" Dwalin bellowed as they stopped and lowered the stretcher to the ground.

"He's not getting heavier, we're getting weaker. If we don't see the end of this place soon, we're all going to die here!" Grouched Dori.

Thorin sank to the ground at the base of a large tree. He knew they needed to get out of this place, but he couldn't walk another step without resting for a while. "We need to know where we are. Bilbo, you're the lightest of us, do you think you can climb to the top of that oak tree? If you can get your head above the trees, you may be able to see how far we have to go."

Bilbo looked up at the towering oak and nodded. "I…I think so. I can certainly try."

With that, the hobbit began to climb. He was gone for what seemed an age before they eventually saw him climbing back down again. The news wasn't good.

"The sun is shining up there and there's a lovely breeze and really I've never seen anything like the butterflies, but the trees seem to go on and on forever," he said forlornly.

"Well, that's that then. We're all going to die here!" Dori exclaimed.

"Don't be so negative Dori!" Nori grumbled.

"I'm not being negative!" Snapped the silver-haired dwarf. "How on earth are we meant to survive here with no food!?"

"Did someone say food?" Bombur asked sleepily from where he still lay on the stretcher.

The company was all overjoyed to see him awake again but the rotund dwarf sat down and cried when he heard there was no food left.

"And I was having such a lovely dream." He wailed. "There was a big forest feast, the elven King was there, and they had every kind of food you can imagine. All sorts of delicious things. I wish I could go back to sleep."

"You've slept enough! If you fall asleep again, we shall leave you here!" Snapped Thorin. Bilbo's news and Bombur's talk of food had put him in an increasingly foul mood.

"What are we going to do?" Esmeralda asked quietly.

The dwarves all looked at each other but nobody seemed to have an answer. They were all tired and hungry and nobody had the strength to continue on the path again knowing there was no end in sight.

Thorin sighed. "Right now, we'll rest. We are all weary. Hopefully, tomorrow will bring new hope. Dori, take the first watch."

They had not been asleep long when Dori woke them. Lights had been lit in the forest on the right not far from the path and they could hear merry voices singing in the distance.

"Elves!" spat Thorin in disgust.

"Elves or not, we need help Thorin." Advised Balin.

"And food." Added Bombur.

"But Beorn said we weren't to leave the path!" Bilbo pointed out.

"No use staying on the path if we starve to death on it," Nori chimed in.

The group fell to squabbling about whether or not it was a good idea to forsake Beorn's advice and leave the path. Some argued that they should remain where they were and that the elves would probably not help them anyway, others argued that anything was better than starving to death and that they should at least try to find help. In the end, hunger decided for them, and they plunged into the forest towards the lights.

Dwalin's POV

Dwalin didn't like this. From the time they had entered the forest, he knew something was going to go wrong. When Bombur fell into the river he thought that the uneasy feeling would go away but it had only increased. Leaving the path was a bad idea, he could feel it in his bones but the others were adamant that they should approach the elves for help and so he followed.

As they neared the lights, it was as if they stepped into Bombur's dream. A few feet before them was a large feast. Tall elegant wood elves sat around long wooden tables, decorated with mouth-watering dishes and desserts. The delicious scent of each dish wafted in their noses and their stomachs grumbled greedily. Dwalin's eyes locked on a familiar face seated at the head of a grand table, one he hadn't seen in years, King Thranduil. His eyes narrowed on the prideful King's elaborate and regal appearance. Years of King Thranduil's lack of compassion were never forgotten by Dwalin and his kin and he was sure the King wouldn't suddenly have a change of heart.

There was an uneasy feeling settling in his gut. It wouldn't be wise to rush in unwelcomed but before Dwalin could voice his concern, the company pushed forward, letting their hunger lead them rather than rational thought. Upon their presence, the fires lighting the clearing extinguished, and smoke-filled darkness engulfed them completely.

Everyone shouted, calling out as they stumbled blindly around in the dark, trying to find each other. Dwalin listened carefully for the sound of his wife's voice. Panic filled his heart as he searched for his love. He fumbled and grasped at the empty space around him. His hand reached a shoulder and a voice called out. Relief washed over him as he recognized his brother's voice followed by the sound of his wife calling out next to him. The voices of the others echoed around them in the darkness.

"This is ridiculous! We'll never find each other like this!" Dwalin grumbled.

"Aye brother, agreed," Balin answered.

"Dwalin I can't find Jenna! Where is she?" Dwalin could hear the tears in his wife's voice even though she had spent the last week or more not speaking to her friend.

"We'll find her lass, don't you worry. Everyone STOP!" Balin shouted as loudly as he could.

The voices all died down. "Right, Dori? Are you there?"

"I am," a voice rang out from somewhere to the left. "I have Ori, Bofur, Bifur, and Bombur over here."

"Ok good, I'm here with Dwalin and Esme, do you think you can make your way over to my voice?" Balin replied.

"Yes Balin, I think so," Dori answered.

"Oin? Where are you?" Balin called out.

"Right here." Oin and Gloin hadn't been too far away it seemed and had joined them while Balin was speaking with Dori.

"Alright, now where is Nori? Can you hear me?"

"Aye." A voice came from a bit of a distance in front of them. "I have Jenna."

Dwalin could hear Esme's relieved sigh beside him now that she knew her friend was ok.

"Fili? Kili?" Balin called out again.

"We're over here Balin!" The two boys called out in unison from off to the right somewhere. "We have the hobbit!"

"Ok, all of you make your way towards my voice if you would. Thorin?" Balin called out to their King but there was only silence in reply.

"Thorin!?" Dwalin called out, louder this time, but still, they got no answer. Dwalin's stomach felt sick, he had known it was a mistake to leave the path, he should have insisted they stay on it. Now, look at what had happened.

"Thorin!? Where is he!?" Jenna's panicked voice called out. "Why isn't he answering? THORIN!?"

"We have to find him!" Kili and Fili sounded as panicked as Dwalin felt.

Several voices called out at once for their King but no matter how long they shouted for him there was still no answer.

Thorin was gone.

Jenna's POV

Jenna's nightmares had continued night after night but each night strong arms had wrapped around her, pulling her close and chasing the demons away. A voice she still couldn't quite place whispered to her night after night. "I've got you." She had come to rely on her mysterious saviour so much she wasn't sure what she would do without them when they got out of this horrible place.

Her newfound fear of the dark had made her extremely reluctant to leave the path to find the elves. She didn't like the idea, too much could go wrong but she had followed the others anyway.

Then everything had gone wrong. When the lights had gone out Jenna froze. It was like being plunged into her nightmares again. She couldn't help imagining all sorts of things creeping and crawling in the darkness. She could hear people calling her, but she couldn't even answer, her voice just wouldn't work. Her legs wouldn't move either and a horrible fear of being left behind gripped her. She started to shake and couldn't help it when a small whimper escaped her lips. Almost instantly strong arms wrapped around her from behind and pulled her close.

"There you are." The voice whispered. "I've got you, kid. Are you ok?"

Suddenly she recognised the voice. Nori. It had been Nori all along, saving her from the monsters in her dreams. Saving her now when her legs felt like jelly and her voice wouldn't work. She put her hands over his and squeezed them tightly. It was all she could manage at the moment. He held her tighter as he answered Balin.

"Aye. I have Jenna."

He turned her to face him even though she couldn't see him in the dark. His hand came up to graze her cheek as she heard Balin call for Fili and Kili.

"Are you ok? Can you walk?" he whispered.

She couldn't seem to find her voice yet, but she nodded instead, hoping that he could feel the movement. Stepping back from her he caught her hand and started to make his way over to where Balin's voice was still calling out to the members of the company.

"Ok, all of you make your way towards my voice if you would. Thorin?"

She clutched Nori's hand tightly as they got closer to where Balin was standing. Suddenly she realised there was silence. Thorin hadn't answered.

"Thorin!?" Dwalin called out to their leader but there was still no answer.

A horrible panic gripped Jenna. Where was Thorin? What had happened to him? How were they going to find him out here!?

"Thorin!? Where is he!?" She called out, suddenly finding her voice. "Why isn't he answering? THORIN!?"

Esme's POV

Esme sunk to the forest floor. How could this have happened? They'd lost Thorin! No matter how loudly they had called for him they had received no answer. The darkness was so complete that they couldn't even search to see if he'd fallen and been left unconscious.

Balin had suggested they all sit down and try to rest. There was no use trying to search in the dark so they would have to wait for whatever light morning would bring. Esme rested against Dwalin's shoulder and closed her eyes.

She was just drifting off to sleep when there was a noise like a twig snapping off to the left. Dwalin stiffened immediately beside her.

"What was that?" Bilbo whispered.

"I have no idea, but I don't like it," Dwalin replied quietly. "Balin?"

There was no answer. He's just sleeping, Esme reassured herself.

"Nori? Dori? Gloin?" Dwalin's calls fell on deaf ears again.

A terrible fear gripped Esme. What was happening? Why weren't the others answering? She felt Dwalin rise beside her and suddenly there was a grunt and she heard him fall to the forest floor.

"DWALIN! Jumping to her feet she made to move forward to help her husband when she felt something pierce her arm. "What the…oh."

Esme's head spun. Her legs buckled underneath her. She hit the forest floor with a thud and she lay helpless, unable to move. Her body grew heavy and panic rose in her chest as she tried to wake herself from this sudden paralysis. Rustling sounded at her feet and she felt a tug on her leg. She blinked wide-eyed at the darkness as her attacker dragged her away. Soon her eyes became heavy and she could no longer fight what ailed her as she drifted into unconsciousness.

Esme had no idea how long she'd been asleep but when she woke, she found herself completely cocooned in something sticky. She struggled to get out but no matter how hard she tried she just couldn't move. What the hell was this? Where was everyone else? What was happening?

She tried to call out for help, but she wasn't sure anyone could hear her from inside her sticky prison or if there was even anyone around to hear her in the first place. At that thought, she began to sob. What had happened to her friends? Where was Dwalin? Suddenly she heard a voice nearby.

"Esme? Is that you? It's ok, I'm going to get you all out of here."

"Bilbo?" she called out to the voice.

"Yes, it's me. I'm going to cut you down," Bilbo replied.

Before Esme had a chance to ask where she was being cut down from, she felt herself falling slowly. As soon as she landed, Bilbo was there, cutting the sticky stuff off her. It was morning and she could finally see again in the dim light. She looked around and saw that the others were all lying around on the forest floor cocooned in the same sticky substance she had been.

"What the…"

"Spiders. Giant ones." Bilbo informed her before she could finish her sentence. "Can you stand? We have to be quick."

Esme tried to stand; her legs were still a little wobbly, but she managed to stand up just as Bilbo was finishing freeing Nori. Nori didn't seem to be much better off than Esme and it took him a minute to get to his feet.

"Where are the spiders?" Esme asked, looking around wearily.

"I drew them away, but they'll be back soon. We have to free the others. Do you both still have your daggers?"

"Aye," Nori mumbled, still half asleep. "How did you draw them off? And how come they never caught you, Bilbo?"

"No time for that now Master Nori, we need to free the others, quickly," Bilbo insisted.

Nori didn't have to be told twice. Soon he was cutting the others free quicker than Esme had thought possible. Pulling her dagger out, Esme started to help, and soon they had freed the entire company. Some of them were in pretty bad shape though and couldn't walk more than a couple of steps.

"We have to move! We have to go quickly!" Bilbo was insisting as he looked back into the forest behind them. "They'll be back soon."

"Half a minute Bilbo," Bofur answered. "Some of us are half dead here."

"You'll all be fully dead if you don't find strength in your legs soon," Bilbo snapped.

Jenna seemed to have fared worse than most, she was deathly pale, and her legs just wouldn't cooperate no matter how hard she tried to balance on them.

"I can't. I can't walk Bilbo." She all but sobbed.

Nori tried to help Jenna balance, but he wasn't much better off than she was and in no time at all, they heard the noise of cracking branches coming closer.

"Arm yourselves!" Balin yelled, as suddenly through a gap in the trees they could make out several large creatures crawling quickly towards them.

Esme stood frozen to the spot as she watched the giant spiders emerge from the forest into the clearing, they were standing in. They were gigantic and hideous; the things nightmares are made of. One crept closer to her but still, she couldn't move.

Suddenly Dwalin stepped in front of her and swung his axe at the disgusting creature. It screeched as it collapsed onto the forest floor and with that the others attacked.

Dwalin pushed Esme back towards Jenna where she sat on the forest floor, still unable to move. He stood in front of them both and Nori stood behind them, protecting them from the advancing spiders.

The dwarves were fighting fiercely but they were still weak, and the spiders were slowly gaining the upper hand.

One particularly large creature had advanced on Nori, and he was struggling to hold it off when without warning an arrow came from somewhere in the trees and pierced one of the spider's eyes. It shrieked and backed off immediately. Within seconds the whole clearing was filled with elven warriors as they fought off the spiders.

Esme had never felt more relieved. Surely the elves would help them when they were finished chasing off their 8-legged foes. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Once the elves had finished with the spiders, they turned their weapons on the dwarves.

"Drop your weapons!" One of the elves demanded.

Any other time the dwarves would probably have tried to fight them off but they were weak, hungry, and grossly outnumbered so they dropped their weapons and allowed the elves to take them into custody.

The elves bound their hands behind their backs and quickly marched them off into the forest. Jenna was still stumbling but while their captors pushed them on at great haste, they steadied them if they stumbled so nobody fell.

Looking around frantically Esme whispered to Dwalin. "Bilbo's not with us! Where is he?"

Dwalin looked around and shrugged. "Say nothing. He'll find us."

TBC